Update: I tried to install iRealSMS through Cydia and the phone locked up. Then it went into safe mode after displaying a message that the springboard crashed. I am restoring and re-doing the entire process.

Update #2: Also, I installed Snapture and no picture appeared on screen, only a black screen. I snapped a picture, it made the "camera taking picture sound" but no image was available for review. I have not been keeping up with what apps work through cydia but these two appear so far not to be working correctly for me. We will see after attempt #2.

Update#3: Successfully jailbroke my 3GS on AT&T. I have not attempted to install Snapature or iRealSMS yet but I was able to install Open SSH with no problem and I began to manually skin my phone's images and sounds (for starters I changed the tock sound to the old school typewriter sound, I would do more tonight but it is late and I am tired). So based on my experience tonight, the Purplera1n method worked for me with no problems. BTW, I used my HP Vista (with SP1) to achieve the jailbreak and I used my MBP to backup everything, so it worked and maintained everything across both computer systems.

Update#3: Successfully jailbroke my 3GS on AT&T. I have not attempted to install Snapature or iRealSMS yet but I was able to install Open SSH with no problem and I began to manually skin my phone's images and sounds (for starters I changed the tock sound to the old school typewriter sound, I would do more tonight but it is late and I am tired). So based on my experience tonight, the Purplera1n method worked for me with no problems. BTW, I used my HP Vista (with SP1) to achieve the jailbreak and I used my MBP to backup everything, so it worked and maintained everything across both computer systems.

would u happen to have the "youve got mail" or "mail muthaf-cka" caf files or know where to put them?

Got it to work on mine using vista home on my second try. First it stayed locked up in the logo. Then I did a hard reboot and ran it again. Second time iTunes turned on and as soon as I closed iTunes it finished. Now I wish all other apps worked. Anything that has to do with reloading srpingboard it will boot up in safe mode.

Had zero trouble with mine. I'm running Windows 7 RC1 build 7000 on my Macbook Pro. Had to kill purplerain once during the waiting for phone part, all I did was kill the program and then restart it and it was done in about 30 seconds. Works awesome, good call quality, wifi still works, and it's not unlocked. Cydia FLIES on this thing as does Dock.

I've only changed a few icons like the sliders, some sounds and the bands on the top and bottom of the lockscreen. Can't get the top one to disappear. I've been using PhoneView to change my sounds an images and it works flawlessly.